Wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system and method with a matching symbols bonus trigger

ABSTRACT

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed with a first set of reels operable to randomly determine a primary game outcome and a pair of reels positioned about the first set of reels and operable to randomly determine an indicia pair outcome, the indicia pair outcome operable to modify the primary game outcome. In the event that the indicia pair outcome includes a matching pair of designated indicia, then a bonus (or feature) game may be triggered wherein the matching pair are locked in place while one or more free spins of the first set of reels occurs, and, awards are provided for each winning outcome.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The Applicants claim the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/413,467 filed Nov. 14, 2010, and entitled “Wagering Game, Gaming Machine, Networked Gaming System and Method With a Matching Symbols Bonus Trigger.”

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights of copyright whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and associated methods. More particularly, the invention relates to wagering games, gaming devices, networked gaming systems, and associated methods including a set of matching symbols to modify a base game outcome.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large number of different reel-type gaming machines have been developed to provide various formats and graphic presentations for conducting games and presenting game results. Many reel type games offer various free spin features to players in which a bonus round is provided including multiple free spins. There continues to be a need to generate more player interest and excitement by providing new aspects to games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes wagering games, gaming machines, networked gaming systems and methods with a first set of reels operable to randomly determine a primary game outcome and a pair of reels positioned about the first set of reels and operable to randomly determine an indicia pair outcome, the indicia pair outcome operable to modify the primary game outcome.

In the event that the indicia pair outcome includes a matching pair of designated indicia, then a bonus (or feature) game may be triggered wherein the matching pair are locked in place while one or more free spins of the first set of reels occurs, and, awards are provided for each winning outcome.

These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an example screenshot of primary display 100 including example reel game 103 (Multimedia Games' Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown) with a lockdown pair of reels positioned about a primary set of reels and informational banner 108 indicating the designated symbols on the outer reel pair triggering a bonus or feature game (Lockdown Bonus) in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 1B is an example screenshot of upper display 110 including example paytable 107 (Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown) listing various outcome combinations and associated awards in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 1C is an example screenshot of primary display 100 including another example reel game 103 (Multimedia Games' Maximum Lockdown) with a lockdown pair of reels positioned about a primary set of reels in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 1D is an example screenshot of upper display 110 including another example paytable 107 (Maximum Lockdown) listing various outcome combinations and associated awards in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2A illustrates example upright gaming machine 200 (Multimedia Games Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown) in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2B illustrates another example upright gaming machine 200 (Multimedia Games Maximum Lockdown) in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2C illustrates another example upright gaming machine 200 (Multimedia Games Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown and Wheel Top Box) in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2D illustrates an example slant-top gaming machine according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example logic diagram of a gaming machine in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example gaming network including one or more gaming machines with dual game play in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1A (and generally FIGS. 1C-1D), example primary display 100 is shown displaying reel game 103 (Multimedia Games' Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown) with lockdown pair of (outer) reels 104 positioned about reel set 106 in a primary game display area and informational banner 108 indicating the designated symbols on the outer reel pair triggering a bonus or feature game (Lockdown Bonus) displayed in an informational display area in accordance with one or more embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, an example reel configuration may comprise a 1×4×4×4×1 configuration, which is defined to mean that the outside reels (e.g. reels 1 and 5, counting in order from left to right) show only a single visible symbol (or indicia), whereas the middle 3 reels (or inside reels) have 4 visible positions apiece. In the examples shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C, the reel configurations comprise a 1×3×3×3×1 configuration. In one or more embodiments, available paylines for each configuration include an indicia location associated with each reel, so that for a 5-reel game, each payline has 5 associated symbol (or indicia) locations. For example, one payline may extend straight across each reel; another payline may extend through the sole visible indicia of reel 1, the top visible indicia of each of reels 2-4, and the sole visible indicia of reel 5; another payline may extend through the sole visible indicia of reel 1, the bottom visible indicia of each of reels 2-4, and the sole visible indicia of reel 5; and other paylines may extend through the sole visible indicia of reel 1, zig and zag through indicia of reels 2-4, and through the sole visible indicia of reel 5.

An active payline is one that is wagered upon by a player during a game play; and a winning outcome (or payline) is an active payline upon which a game outcome is associated with an award, such as the game outcomes and associated awards shown in paytable 107. In example reel game 103, winning outcomes are three, four, or five sequential symbols as identified in paytable 107 which occur on any active payline and may include wild symbols that may substitute for any symbol except designated lockdown symbols. The middle reels may have up to three of a kind on any payline and the outside reels may modify the outcome of the inner reels to increase the number of a kind on any payline to four or five of a kind In the event that the inner reels have two of a kind adjacent either outer reel, this would not be a winning outcome, except that the outer reel may increase the number of a kind to three which may be a winning outcome if the player wagered upon the associated payline and an award was associated with the three of a kind symbol.

In one or more embodiments, the inner and outer reels may be spun simultaneously during a game play and sequentially or substantially simultaneously brought to a stop by a game processor. If the outer reels are brought to a stop sequentially, the first reels may stop and then if there is a potential large winning outcome, the last and/or next-to-last reels may be brought slowly to a stop together with anticipatory sounds and reel lighting (e.g. change the normal white reel lighting to a green or red color). For example, if a designated symbol is displayed on the first reel (e.g. Wild, Free Spin, Diamonds, Gold or Money Bag symbol), the reel may be highlighted with a red light effect (e.g. in the case of mechanical reels, overhead lighting may illuminate the first reel with a colored lighting, such as red or green, and the backlighting of the reel may be illuminated at a high intensity; a sound or sounds associated with a maximum lockdown bonus may sound; inner reels 106 may stop normally and the remaining lockdown (outer) reel may slow down in anticipation prior to stopping). One or more designated symbols may slow down and stop differently. For example, when the first reel shows a Diamonds, Gold or Money Bag symbol, the fifth reel may have a shorter spin and slowdown than the Wild symbol. Red or green lighting may fade in about the remaining outer reel during an anticipation spin. If a non-matching symbol appears, then all reels may revert to normal (e.g. white) lighting and awards are paid on any winning outcomes. If a matching symbol lands, than all reels may be illuminated red or green and back lighting may be fully illuminated to enhance the lighting effect. A re-spin or lockdown celebration sound or sounds may play, one or more displays may play one or more re-spin or lockdown celebratory animations, winning paylines may be paid and re-spins may be initiated. As re-spins are completed, awards may be paid or accumulated, and the process may continue until all re-spins are completed. In one or more embodiments, display 110 may include highlighting payline wins with animations of winning symbols on paytable 107, a coin fountain may be emitted during a large win or jackpot, and during lockdown bonus games, one or more lockdown animations may be displayed.

In other embodiments, the inner reels may first spin and stop, and the player may view any initial game outcomes. Then the outer symbols may be spun either in the same direction as the inner reels or in the opposite direction, and the reels may be brought to a stop either sequentially or simultaneously. If the outer reels are brought to a stop sequentially, the first reel may stop, and then if there is a potential large winning outcome, the final reel may be brought slowly to a stop together with anticipatory sounds and reel lighting (e.g. change the normal white reel lighting to a green or red color). In one or more embodiments, a processor may randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a game outcome using a random number generator and the game outcome may be inclusive, so that the processor may direct the stopping of the inner and outer reels in accordance with the determined game outcome. Alternatively, the game outcome may be bifurcated such that the processor may determine the game outcome associated with the inner reels and separately determine the game outcome associated with the outer reels. In one or more further alternatives, a player may wager on paylines associated with the inner reels and may optionally make a second wager to activate operation of the outer reels. For example, one or more buttons may be provided for betting on paylines including the outer reels; and a paytable may be provided that includes winning outcomes based on the inner reels and an optional set of winning outcomes based on the inner and outer reels.

In one or more embodiments, a lockdown bonus or feature may be triggered during reel game 103 when matching designated lockdown symbols appear on outer reels 104. In one or more embodiments, designated lockdown symbols may comprise one or more upper-tier symbols (i.e. symbols associated with large awards on paytable 107). When the lockdown bonus is triggered, outer reels 104 lock with the matched symbols displayed while inner reels 106 are spun and stopped during one or more additional plays. Awards during each play are either paid at the end of each play or accumulated until the additional plays are completed, at which time the accumulated award is paid to the player (e.g. directly or by crediting the reel game credit meter or player's account).

In a preferred Maximum Lockdown game, there are no free spin symbols on the inner reels, rather the free-spin bonus is triggered by matching free spin symbols on the outer reels 104. Both respins and free spins are triggered by matching symbols on the outer reels. In this embodiment, during respins the outer reels lock on the triggering match, whereas during free spins all 5 reels spin. In one or more alternative embodiments, reel game 103 may also have a free spin bonus which may be triggered by scattered bonus symbols on inner reels 106, and wherein one or more free plays may be won. Depending upon the embodiment, inner reels 106 may be spun while outer reels 104 may remain locked with whichever symbols previously displayed remaining in place. Alternatively, both inner and outer reels 106, 104 may be spun, in which case the player may have an opportunity to trigger a lockdown bonus. In the event that the free spin bonus is triggered during a lockdown bonus, one or more additional plays may be added to the lockdown bonus. In the event that the lockdown bonus is triggered during a free spin bonus, then the remaining free plays may be added to the lockdown bonus free plays or the free spin bonus may be stayed while the lockdown bonus proceeds, and once the lockdown bonus is completed, reel game 103 may return to complete any remaining free plays in the free spin bonus.

As shown in FIG. 1A, lockdown reels 104 do not have matching lockdown reel indicia, so the feature game (lockdown bonus) is not triggered. However, reel 1 shows a wild which may be used to complete three or four of a kind on an active payline and pays an award in cases where pays are made for any three, four or five of a kind The outcome of reel set 106 shows a two symbol stacked wild on reel 3 which may also be used to complete three or four of a kind on an active payline. For example, on payline 1 (horizontal payline), reel 2 shows gold bells and reel 3 shows a wild (which may substitute for gold bells), reel 1 shows a wild (which may substitute for gold bells) which makes three gold bells which is a combination found on paytable 107 for which an award may be paid.

Referring to FIG. 1B, an example screenshot of upper display 110 including example paytable 107 (Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown) listing various outcome combinations and associated awards is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1C, an example screenshot of primary display 100 including another example reel game 103 (Multimedia Games' Maximum Lockdown) with a lockdown pair of reels 104 positioned about a primary set of reels 106 is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1D, an example screenshot of upper display 110 including another example paytable 107 (Maximum Lockdown) listing various outcome combinations and associated awards is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2A (and generally, FIGS. 2B-2C), gaming machine 200, such as Multimedia Games' Smokin' 7s with Maximum Lockdown M11 Video gaming machine, is shown including primary display 100 with which inner set of reels 106 are shown or displayed in a base game display area with lockdown reel pair 104 in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, upper display 110 may be shown with paytable 107 displayed. Alternatively, upper display 110 may be replaced such as with wheel top box 227 and paytable 107 may be displayed on display 100 in the informational display area (or on another available display), such as by rotating content periodically or be provided through the help screen.

Gaming machine 200 is also shown to include middle display 213 which may display a server-based game (such as bingo, in the case of a Class II gaming machine), advertising or other content as may be provided over a network or through the gaming machine; and, user interface 209 with which a patron may place wagers and initiate play of one or more games at gaming machine 200, all of which is housed in or about a gaming machine cabinet. User interface 209 may include: a commercially available player tracking interface unit, such as a Bally iView unit; a button deck including buttons for selecting paylines and wagers per payline on base game 103, one or more additional buttons for selecting wagers associated with any side game that may be included, and, a ‘Play’ button and/or handle with which the player may use to initiate play of the games selected by the player. The button deck may be provided on a touch panel (such as on the lower portion of display 100) in addition to or in the alternative to a physical button deck. The ‘Play’ button may also be used simultaneously with base game 103 or separately (if the option is provided to play only a side game) initiate play of a side game. The player tracking unit may include a card reader, a bill acceptor/printer, and player display which may include a greeting to the player, player points, a menu for communicating with player account server 409 (FIG. 4), and other casino operator content.

While gaming machine 200 is shown as an upright gaming machine cabinet style (FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C), various cabinet styles or device types may be utilized including a slant top cabinet style (see e.g. FIG. 2D), a bar top cabinet style (where the cabinet may be part of a bar/table top and/or housed therein), a personal computer, or a tablet, cell phone or other handheld device.

FIG. 2D shows a gaming machine having a slant top style cabinet according to one or more alternative embodiments. The depicted gaming machine 200 includes a slant top style cabinet 220, housing an upper display 110 and a primary display 100, each having the functions already described above. In some slant top style embodiments, primary display 100 is movable or adjustable between two positions indicated by the two dotted outlines depicting primary display 100.

Referring again to FIGS. 2A-2D, as in the reel games shown in the figures, each reel includes a series of symbols (for example, as shown in FIG. 1A) viewable in display 100 (e.g. through a glass window or transparent display, in the case of mechanical reels, or, as displayed in a video format). With the reels in a stationary position, the symbols visible on inner reels 106 may be viewed as an array of symbols. During a wagering game (as may be initiated by a player by placing a wager and pressing a ‘PLAY’ button), the reels may be simulated to spin (or electro-mechanically spun in the case of mechanical reels) about an axle under the control of a game processor which randomly or pseudo-randomly determines the game outcome and causes the reels to stop in accordance with the determined game outcome.

One or more paylines, combinations, or patterns of the symbols including those visible in display 100 may be correlated to one or more game outcomes on active paylines and payable in accordance with paytable 107 (FIG. 1D). A patron may wager on one or more of the paylines during each game play (active paylines). Display 100 may thereby be used to display game results to one or more patrons who may view gaming machine 200 (FIG. 2A), and the game processor may make payment to the patron by incrementing a credit meter (or a player's account or directly paying) for winning outcomes of paylines in accordance with the paytable and upon which the patron has wagered. In example gaming machine 200, various paylines are provided across the five reels; a player may be provided the option to bet one, two, three, or more credits on each payline to play base game 103. In an alternative embodiment, players may be provided the option to wager on inner reels 106 with an optional wager activating outer reels 104 (i.e. providing the possibility of the maximum lockdown bonus and enhanced base game awards). While example gaming machine 200 includes a set of three inner reels 106, various numbers of reels and paylines may be selected or utilized in an implementation of one or more embodiments, such as one, two, three, four, five, six, or seven reels, and so forth.

Primary display 100 may comprise a single display or may comprise two or more displays (e.g. two displays in over- or under-laying relation to each other). For example, primary display 100 may comprise a touch-sensitive display panel, such as a flat panel LCD or LED display, which may be programmed to display an opaque or thematic frame image (which may include video and/or still images) except over a reel display area. Primary display 100 may be programmed to be transparent or translucent during game play of the primary wagering game, so that the patron may view the game presentation in the reel display area where a set of mechanical reels may be viewable or a set of video reels may be displayed by an underlying display. In addition, the entire display surface of primary display 100 (or a portion thereof) may be configured to respond to the patron's touch such as to select paylines, select credits wagered per payline, and/or play reel game 103.

In one or more alternative embodiments, primary display 100 may be programmed to display a bonus or feature game that may be triggered by the appearance of one or more special symbols or other random event. In one or more embodiments, when a bonus or feature game is triggered, primary display 100 (or a portion thereof) may be transformed to display content associated with the bonus or feature game, and once the bonus or feature game is complete, primary display 100 may revert to the primary game display state.

In one or more alternative embodiments, a touch sensitive portion of the display may be programmed to display a player interactive element such as, for example, by displaying a selection of buttons and displaying a message to the player to ‘choose a button’ which is implemented to enable player interactivity with the game, such as to select a displayed button or item, in order to cause the game to perform additional steps and/or provide one or more bonus or feature game outcomes and awards to the player.

In one or more alternative embodiments, gaming machine 200 may include mechanical reels with fixed or dynamic symbols. Conventionally, mechanical reels include reel strips with fixed symbols; however, reel strips may be, for example, implemented using FOLED (flexible organic LED) or comparable reel strips wherein one or more symbols may be programmed dynamically to vary the symbol and/or its appearance, either from one fixed image to another (such as changing a symbol to a wild symbol or changing a series of symbols to wild symbols), or, from a fixed image to a dynamic (e.g. animated or video) image or a set of miniature video reels. In various instances when a symbol changes to another symbol, a bonus or enhanced award may be paid in accordance with the paytable or a multiple thereof or may be a bonus (a fixed or progressive amount) paid separate from the paytable.

In the event that the payment is a progressive payment, a progressive pool may be generated from an operator's marketing dollars or from play at one or more gaming machines which may be eligible for the progressive award; and the progressive pool may be maintained by progressive server 407 (FIG. 4). In cases when a progressive is associated with an individual gaming device, the progressive pool may be maintained through a processor (such as the game processor) associated with the device. In cases when the progressive associated with a game is personal to the player, the amount of the progressive award may be maintained by a processor associated with the game while the player is playing the particular device, and when the player's gaming session ends, the amount accumulated towards the personal progressive award, if not won, may be forwarded to a server, such as player account server 409, which may forward the information to a subsequent device when the player returns to play or selects another gaming machine on which to play.

Another conventional game display approach is to implement reels virtually (video reels) on a display, such as primary display 100 as shown in the figures discussed herein. In the case of virtual displays of the reels, the symbols may be fixed or animated on each of the reels. In one or more embodiments, the appearance of one or more special symbols in inner reels 106 may trigger a re-spin of outer reel 104 and provide an award according to the standard paytable both for the original outcome and the re-spin outcome. In one or more embodiments, a multiplier symbol may appear on a winning payline or as a scatter symbol in reel game 103, which may trigger another game (such as wheel top box 227, FIG. 2C, or a game displayed on one of the associated displays) to modify one or more awards associated with an original game outcome with a multiplier value (e.g. 1×, 2×, 3×, etc.) and/or one or more free base game spins. For example, a multiplier game may provide a game presentation and outcome, and based on the outcome, an associated multiplier award may be applied to one or more paylines on reel game 103 to determine the award that is paid to the player (e.g. credited to a credit meter on the gaming machine), which may based on the currently displayed outcome and/or one or more free base game plays. If two or more multiplier symbols appear in reel (or base) game 103, the multipliers associated with the multiplier game paytable may be multiplied by two or more. In another example, one or more free spin symbols may appear on base game 103 which may trigger a free spin game to award a number of free spins of base game 103 depending on the free spin game outcome. The associated number may be multiplied by the number of free spin symbols that appeared on base game 103 to trigger the free spin game; and, the free spin game process may be repeated to add to the number of remaining base game free reel spins, if one or more free spin symbols appear on subsequent base game plays.

In one or more embodiments, a player may be provided an option to save a multiplier or number of free spins, as described above, for use at a later time in the gaming session. Or, if the player doesn't use the multiplier or number of free spins during the gaming session, the multiplier and free spin information may be transmitted to a server, such as player account server 409, stored, and then transmitted from the server to a gaming device selected by the player at a later time (e.g. the player may enter a player card into a gaming device card reader, which then communicates with player account server 409 to receive player information including any saved game information). In one or more embodiments, the multiplier and free spins may be used with the same game as previously played or, in some cases, may be used with one or more other games (such as games of the same denomination). In one or more embodiments, saved multipliers and/or free spins may be increased, such as by hitting a multiplier or free spin win additional times. For example, a player may win a 2× multiplier on a first win and subsequently win a 3× multiplier on a second win. A player may be able to then play a game with the 2× multiplier and play another game with the 3× multiplier. Alternatively, the multipliers may accumulate 2×+3×=5× and the player may play a single game with a 5× multiplier; in one or more embodiments, the player may be provided the option to split up the multipliers in two or more games or play the multipliers in a single game. In a case when a player has accumulated multipliers totaling 6× or more, a player may have the option to split the multipliers into two games (e.g. 2×, 4× or 3×, 3×) or three (e.g. 2×, 2×, 2×) games or to play the accumulated multiplier in a single game.

In one or more alternative embodiments, overlapping display panels may be implemented to generate video or display effects over the primary game reels. For example, the reel display area may be implemented as a transmissive (e.g. Aruze or WMS transmissive display panels) display or a transparent (e.g. Bally's transparent display panels) display configured to display visual effects together (or cooperatively) with the primary reels under the control of the game processor during the operation of a wagering game. In the case of virtual reels, the virtual reels may be recessed a distance from an overlaying display and segregated by dividers similar to dividers separating mechanical reels, which may provide a spatial characteristic (e.g. IGT's PureDepth display panels). In either case, the overlapping display may be touch sensitive and configured to interact with the player by transmitting and receiving signals as described above.

In one or more embodiments, the game processor operating the wagering game and interacting with various peripheral components in many instances is implemented as a microprocessor, such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor, or on a printed circuit board including one or more memory devices positioned within gaming machine 200. In alternative implementations, the game processor may be remote from gaming machine 200, such as on a server network (e.g. game server 403) connected to gaming machine 200, in which case the game operation as described herein may be accomplished through network communications to control the display of the game on gaming machine 200.

Referring to FIG. 3, example logical diagram 300 of gaming machine 100 is shown including CPU 301, memory 303 with wagering game 304, user interface 305, network controller 307, audio/visual controllers, and reel assembly 313 (if mechanical reel configuration). Game processor (CPU) 301 may comprise a conventional microprocessor, such as an Intel Pentium microprocessor, mounted on a printed circuit board with supporting ports, drivers, memory, and coding to communicate with and control gaming machine operations, such as through the execution of coding stored in memory 303 including one or more wagering games 304. Game processor 301 connects to user interface 305 such that a player may enter input information and game processor 301 may respond according to its programming, such as to apply a wager and initiate execution of a game.

Game processor 301 also may connect through network controller 307 to a gaming network, such as example casino server network 400 (referring generally to FIG. 4) which may be implemented over one or more site locations and include host server 401, remote game play server 403 (which may be configured to provide game processor functionality including determining game outcomes and providing audio/visual instructions to a remote gaming device), central determinant server 405 (which may be configured to determine lottery, bingo, or other centrally determined game outcomes and provide the information to networked gaming machines 200 providing lottery and bingo-based wagering games to patrons), progressive server 407 (which may be configured to accumulate a progressive pool from a portion of wagering proceeds or operator marketing funds and to award progressive awards upon the occurrence of a progressive award winning event to one or more networked gaming machines 200), player account server 409 (which may be configured to collect and store player information and/or awards and to provide player information to gaming machines 200 after receiving player identification information such as from a player card), and accounting server 411 (which may be configured to receive and store data from networked gaming machines 200 and to use the data to provide reports and analyses to an operator). Through its network connection, gaming machine 200 may be monitored by an operator through one or more servers such as to assure proper operation, and, data and information may be shared between gaming machine 200 and a respective one of the servers in the network such as to accumulate or provide player promotional value, to provide server-based games, or to pay server-based awards.

Generally, activity at gaming machine 200 is initiated by a player inserting currency and/or a player card into a bill acceptor and card reader, respectively. Upon insertion, a signal is sent to game processor 301. In the case of the insertion of a player card, the card reader transmits card information which is directed through network controller 307 to a player tracking server connected to the network. Player data is transmitted to gaming machine 200. Responsive to the data, game processor 301 may execute coding causing player data and a display (and possibly an audio) command to be transmitted to one of the video and/or audio controllers instructing the controllers to display player information on a respective display and possibly issue an audio greeting through one or more respective speakers. Concurrently, the bill acceptor sends a signal to game processor 301 which may include an identification of the currency that has been read, and game processor 301, in accordance with its coding, may convert the currency amount to credits and transmit a store and display signal to a credit meter and its associated display (“Credits”, e.g. FIG. 1A). Once credits have been associated with the credit meter, the player may select the number of paylines and credits per line that the player wishes to wager, whereupon game processor 301, in accordance with its coding, receives the wager information from user interface 305, transmits accounting and display information to the payline (“Lines”), credits per payline (“Bet per Line”), and total bet (“Total Bet”) meters and displays, transmits an update to the credit meter and display (“Credits”) deducting the amount of the total bet, and initiates the wagering game.

In the case of a Class III gaming devices, when a game is initiated, a random number generator (RNG) is operated by game processor 301 to determine the game outcome. Commonly, game processor 301 is positioned within gaming machine 200 and configured to manage the operation of the gaming machine components, such as shown in FIG. 3. However, the game processor may be either onboard or external to a gaming device played by a player, such as an electronic tablet (e.g. Apple iPad or gaming specific tablet), personal data assistant (PDA), cellular telephone (e.g. Blackberry or Apple iPhone), surface table (e.g. Microsoft/IGT touch sensitive gaming surface table), etc. In such case, when the player places a wager and initiates play of the game through user interface 305 of the gaming device, the game processor may be onboard or remotely located such as within a network gaming server. In the latter case, an onboard microprocessor, controller, or digital signal processor may execute coding to transmit the wager and game request information through the network, and the remote game processor may operate an RNG to determine the game outcome.

In the case of Class II gaming devices, the overall structure of the various devices as discussed above is essentially the same with the major difference being the method of determining the game outcome. Commonly, Class II gaming devices utilize the game of bingo as the basis for determining a winning outcome where the ball draw is performed remotely by a network or central determination server (alternative games may be used for determining game outcomes, such as through a lottery drawing of a finite set of numbers, if permitted by the licensing jurisdiction). Class II gaming systems employing electronic lottery tickets are commonly referred to as central determination systems wherein pools and sub-pools of game outcomes are determined by a central server (or gaming device) and distributed amongst a set of networked gaming devices. The distribution step may be on demand, such as when a gaming device receives a game request, or sets of game outcomes may be distributed to the various networked gaming devices in which case the game processor of the requesting gaming device may select a game outcome from the set of game outcomes, such as by using an RNG or other selection process.

Additionally, Class II gaming devices, such as a bingo-based gaming device may have multiple displays, such as are shown in FIG. 2A wherein one of the displays, such as display 213 of FIG. 2A, may be used to display one or more electronic bingo cards and one or more ball drawings after a game has been initiated, in accordance with the game outcome that has been provided to the gaming device by a central determinant server. In the case, as in FIG. 2A, where the primary display comprises a set of reels, game processor 301 converts the centrally-determined game outcome to a corresponding value outcome of the reel-based game as shown in FIG. 2A and operates the reel-based game as described above and with respect to the figures. In one or more embodiments, when a player both enters a wager on base game 103 and enters ‘PLAY’, a game play request may be transferred to central determinant server 405 which may provide a single game outcome to the respective gaming machine 200, and game processor 301 may initiate a game presentation corresponding to the game outcome provided by server 405.

In one or more embodiments, coding may be implemented and stored in memory 303 and/or RAM, executable by game processor 301 to control game operation, display content, lighting, and audio through video, audio, reel drive motor controllers (for mechanical reels), and lighting controllers.

While the primary display has been depicted as displaying a set of reels, in one or more base game embodiments, base game 103 may comprise a card-based game (e.g. various poker variations) wherein each indicia location corresponds to a card that may be randomly or pseudo-randomly drawn (in which case, inner reels as shown may comprise three reels with three cards displayed per reel or nine reels with one symbol displayed per reel. As described above, lockdown reels 104 may have specially designated symbols on various playing cards that trigger various events including the lockdown bonus, re-spins, multipliers, etc.

Also, while gaming machine 200 has been described as a stand-alone or networked game device, in one or more embodiments, gaming machine 200 may be operable in a tournament or community gaming mode wherein players may compete for one or more awards or triggering of special features. For example, in one or more example configurations, one or more banks of gaming machines 200 may be network connected to an overhead display 413 which may display a feature game and when triggered, the player triggering the feature game may be indicated on the overhead display 413 as the wheel-based game is played. For example, an additional wager may be required to activate and potentially win a wheel bonus which may be triggered by a specially designated symbol on outer reels 104, and when triggered, the wheel bonus may provide an opportunity to win additional awards or provide interactive features with base game 103 (e.g. multipliers, free spins, etc.)

In another example, base game 103 may be played conventionally with payouts according to paytable 107 and players who are linked in a community game may compete against each other during each play for additional awards. For instance, of the competing players, the player with the highest award on a single play or cumulative play during a selected period may receive a first award, a player with the second highest award may receive a second award, etc. In one or more embodiments, the base game outcome (e.g. reel or card game outcome) and respective player identifiers may be displayed on an overhead screen, along with the awards paid to each participating player. In one or more embodiments, the participating players may be required to pay an additional fee to participate (e.g. a network inquiry to play in the community game may be made on a player tracking display, player acceptance including a debit of the player's account or gaming device credit meter, and a community game controller may transmit a message to each participating player advising of their participation). In one or more embodiments, a player's highest game outcome occurring during a selected time span may be used by the community game controller as the player's entry into the community competition or tournament.

Referring to FIG. 4, a block diagram of example networked gaming system 400 associated with one or more gaming facilities is shown including one or more networked gaming machines 200 with reel game 103 in accordance with one or more embodiments. With reference to FIG. 4, while a few servers have been shown separately, they may be combined or split into additional servers having additional capabilities.

As shown, networked gaming machines 200 (EGM1-EGMN) and one or more overhead displays 413 may be network connected and enable the content of one or more displays of gaming machines 200 to be mirrored or replayed on an overhead display. For example, the primary display content may be stored by the display controller or game processor 301 and transmitted through network controller 307 to the overhead display controller either substantially simultaneously or at a subsequent time according to either periodic programming executed by game processor 301 or a triggering event, such as a jackpot or large win, at a respective gaming machine 200. In the event that gaming machines 200 have cameras installed, the respective player's video images may be displayed on overhead display 413 along with the content of the player's display 100 and any associated audio feed.

In one or more embodiments, game server 403 may provide server-based games and/or game services to network connected gaming devices, such as gaming machines 200 (which may be connected by network cable or wirelessly). Progressive server 407 may accumulate progressive awards by receiving defined amounts (such as a percentage of the wagers from eligible gaming devices, or by receiving funding from marketing or casino funds) and provide progressive awards to winning gaming devices upon a progressive event, such as a progressive jackpot game outcome or other triggering event such as a random or pseudo-random win determination at a networked gaming device or server (such as to provide a large potential award to players playing the community feature game). Accounting server 411 may receive gaming data from each of the networked gaming devices, perform audit functions, and provide data for analysis programs, such as the IGT Mariposa program bundle.

Player account server 409 may maintain player account records, and store persistent player data such as accumulated player points and/or player preferences (e.g. game personalizing selections or options). For example, the player tracking display may be programmed to display a player menu that may include a choice of personalized gaming selections that may be applied to a gaming machine 200 being played by the player.

In one or more embodiments, the player menu may be programmed to display after a player inserts a player card into the card reader. When the card reader is inserted, an identification may be read from the card and transmitted to player account server 409. Player account server 409 transmits player information through network controller 307 to user interface 209 for display on the player tracking display. The player tracking display may provide a personalized welcome to the player, the player's current player points, and any additional personalized data. If the player has not previously made a selection, then this information may or may not be displayed. Once the player makes a personalizing selection, the information may be transmitted to game processor 301 for storing and use during the player's game play. Also, the player's selection may be transmitted to player account server 409 where it may be stored in association with the player's account for transmission to the player in future gaming sessions. The player may change selections at any time using the player tracking display (which may be touch sensitive or have player-selectable buttons associated with the various display selections).

In one or more embodiments, a gaming website may be accessible by players, e.g. gaming website 421, whereon one or more games may be displayed as described herein and played by a player such as through the use of personal computer 423 or handheld wireless device 425 (e.g. Blackberry cell phone, Apple iPhone, personal data assistant (PDA), iPad, etc.). To enter the website, a player may log in with a user name (that may be associated with the player's account information stored on player account server 409 or be accessible by a casino operator to obtain player data and provide promotional offers), play various games on the website, make various personalizing selections and save the information, so that during a next gaming session at a casino establishment, the player's playing data and personalized information may be associated with the player's account and accessible at the player's selected gaming machine 200.

Referring generally to the forgoing description, as used herein the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of and “consisting essentially of,” respectively, shall be considered exclusionary transitional phrases, as set forth, with respect to claims, in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures (Eighth Edition, August 2001 as revised September 2007), Section 2111.03. Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term). The term ‘presentation’ as used herein is meant to refer to the display of any image and/or video performance and/or the performance of one or more sound bites or audio tracks (such as digital or analog sound tracks or information stored on a memory device and processed by an audio controller to emit sound through a speaker) whether in an attract mode or as part of a game presentation or outcome.

The above described example embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, base game 103 may be centrally determined based on a lottery game. 

1. A wagering game including: (a) a processor; (b) a set of primary reels operable to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines; (c) a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels; (d) wherein a first game result includes an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and (e) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.
 2. The wagering game of claim 1, wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by the processor using a random number generator.
 3. The wagering game of claim 1, wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by the processor using a random number generator.
 4. The wagering game of claim 1, wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager.
 5. The wagering game of claim 1, wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player.
 6. The wagering game of claim 1, wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked.
 7. A method for conducting a wagering game including: (a) providing a set of primary reels operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines; (b) providing a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels; (c) providing a first game result including an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and (d) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by the processor using a random number generator.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by the processor using a random number generator.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked.
 13. A program product embodied in one or more tangible computer readable media, the program product including code executable by a gaming machine and at least one gaming server for: (a) providing a set of primary reels operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a first set of possible primary game outcomes along one or more paylines; (b) providing a pair of reels positioned on either side of the set of primary reels and operable by the processor to randomly or pseudo-randomly obtain a second set of possible outcomes comprising an indicia from each of the pair of reels; (c) providing a first game result including an outcome from the first set and an outcome from the second set; and (d) wherein designated outcomes from the second set having designated pairs of symbols are operable to (i) lock the pair of reels while (ii) re-spinning the set of primary reels a designated number of times and paying awards for winning patterns formed by the re-spinning process.
 14. The program product of claim 13, wherein the outcomes are collectively determinable by a random number generator.
 15. The program product of claim 13, wherein each of the outcomes are determinable by a random number generator.
 16. The program product of claim 13, wherein both outcomes are activated by a single wager.
 17. The program product of claim 13, wherein the one or more free spins can be saved for later use by the player.
 18. The program product of claim 13, wherein the set of primary reels include indicia of one or more secondary free spin symbols and the one or more secondary free spin symbols can increase the number of designated times that the primary reels are re-spun while the pair of reels are locked. 